"We are not alone. Africa, Asia and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese" by Patrice Lumumba

Thursday, July 26, 2012

U.S. Statement on Withholding Aid From Rwanda

In light of information that Rwanda is supporting armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Department of State has decided it can no longer provide Foreign Military Financing (FMF) appropriated in the current fiscal year to Rwanda, considering a restriction imposed by the 2012 appropriation act.

As a result, we will not obligate $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2012 FMF funds that were intended to support a Rwandan academy for non-commissioned officers. These funds will be reallocated for programming in another country.

We will continue to provide assistance to Rwanda to enhance its capacity to support peacekeeping missions.

The Department continues to assess whether other steps should be taken in response to Rwanda’s actions with respect to the DRC.

The United States government is deeply concerned about the evidence that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to Congolese rebel groups, including M23.

The United States has been actively engaged at the highest levels to urge Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support, which threatens to undermine stability in the region.

Restraint, dialogue, and respect for each other’s sovereignty offer the best opportunity for Rwanda and the DRC, with the support of their partners, to resume the difficult work of bringing peace and security to the broader region.

We are encouraged by the ongoing high-level dialogue among the states of the Great Lakes region, and we join the Security Council in taking note with interest of the communiqué issued by the eleven member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on July 12.

Developing a disciplined and unified army as part of a comprehensive security sector reform process remains critical to the stabilization of the DRC.

We support efforts to bring to justice alleged human rights abusers among the mutineers, including Bosco Ntaganda, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. We are concerned by reports that the mutineers have forcibly recruited child soldiers.

Hilary Fuller Renner
Spokesperson
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State

4 Comments:

I'm happy to hear about this kind of decision against the Kagame'goverment and his disciples. This is an important step to the way of establishing the long term peace in Congo and we will appreciate if The recognition of the truth on the last presidential'election. The major question is going to be : "Who do support Joseph Kabila. Can He deserve the same punishment as his uncle? (Kagame)?. Recognize Kagame's crime and leave Joseph Kabila in his functions, is a real scene of theater". May FRIENDS OF CONGO be the voice of speechless!

I'm happy to hear about this kind of decision against the Kagame'goverment and his disciples. This is an important step to the way of establishing the long term peace in Congo and we will appreciate if The recognition of the truth on the last presidential'election. The major question is going to be : "Who do support Joseph Kabila. Can He deserve the same punishment as his uncle? (Kagame)?. Recognize Kagame's crime and leave Joseph Kabila in his functions, is a real scene of theater". May FRIENDS OF CONGO be the voice of speechless!

Even international criminal court will not put (kagame) in court God will put him there! though he voices out a sheep voice but he has a lion heart. He has ended the life of many innocent people.i really wonder how this guy is happy for making people refugees when he had a negative experience of being a refuge for a long.